The Globalization of Environmentalism

AP World HistoryChapter 24

“Accelerating Global Interaction”(Since 1945)

Environmental Changes• 3 major factors accelerated

the impact of humans on the environment in the 20th century:– Population explosion– New ability of humankind to

tap the energy potential of fossil fuels coal, oil, hydroelectricity, natural gas, nuclear power

– Unprecedented economic growth as science and technology increased the production of goods and services

Environmental Changes• Growing numbers of the poor

and growing consumption of the rich = led to the doubling of cropland and depletion of the world’s forests and grasslands

• Numerous species of animals and plants = either endangered or extinct

• Increased numbers of other species = ex: cattle, pigs, chickens, rats, dandelions

• Massive air pollution in major cities

• Thinning of the ozone layer from released CFCs

Environmental Changes

• Most critical environmental transformation = global warming

• Caused by two major factors:– Increased burning of fossil

fuels = emit heat-trapping greenhouse gases

– Loss of trees = would otherwise remove carbon dioxide from the air

Environmental Changes

• Concerns with global warming:–Melting glaciers

and polar ice caps– Rising sea levels– Thawing permafrost– Extreme hurricanes– Further species

extinction

Green and Global• 1st wave of

environmentalism = in the 1800s in the wake of the industrial revolution– Expressed a need for

“scientific management” of nature

– “Wilderness idea” = aimed to preserve untouched areas from human disruption

– Creation of many U.S. national parks

– No mass following or large global response

Yellowstone National ParkIn Wyoming

Established in 1872

Green and Global• 2nd wave of

environmentalism = in the 2nd half of the 1900s– Began with the publication in

1962 of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring

– Exposed the chemical contamination of the environment that threatened both human health and the survival of many species

– Generated an enormous response and launched the environmental movement in the U.S.

Green and Global• This environmental

movement spread to other parts of the West as well– Club of Rome = a global

think tank headquartered in Europe

– Germany = emergence of the Green Party

• Major concerns of Western environmentalists = pollution, wilderness issues, and opposition to development in untouched areas

Green and Global• 1970s-1980s = environmental movements

began in the Global South as well

Environmentalism in the West Environmentalism in the Global South

National movement; many large national organizations

More locally based

Involved affluent members of the middle-class

Involved poor people

Engaged in political lobbying and corporate strategies

Environmental movements often overlap with other movements for political and social reform

More concerned with the rights of nature and wilderness protection

More concerned with issues of: food security, health, and basic survival

Relatively nonviolent movement Movements occasionally become violent guerrilla warfare actions by “green armies”

Green and Global• Late 20th century =

environmentalism became a global concern

• Led to the global “green revolution”– Legislation passed in many countries

to limit air pollution– Pushed many businesses in a “green”

direction– Fostered research on alternative and

renewable resources– Stimulated UN conferences on global

warming– Persuaded millions of people to “go

green” and alter their way of life– Generated many international

agreements addressing issues such as ozone depletion and global warming

Green and Global• Major conflict between the

Global North and Global South = developing countries often feel that Northern initiatives to address atmospheric pollution and global warming will prevent their industrial development

• Global South pushed to limit its emissions to cut down on pollution, but they didn’t create that pollution in the first place– Shouldn’t the industrialized

countries accept more responsibility?

Results of Global Environmentalism

• “One world” thinking

• Focus on the common plight of humankind

• Marked a challenge to modernity

• Ideas of sustainability and restraint entered global discussions